System for protection of buildings and method for same

ABSTRACT

A system and method for protection of buildings are disclosed here. The system may include a plurality of durable recyclable sheets that are capable of displaying media, portions of each sheet may be attached to the other via external fasteners that may be located at interfaces between the sheets. The system may also include top fasteners to fasten portions of the sheets to parts of the building, supporting members, and internal fasteners to fasten the supporting members to portions of the sheets. The method may include the steps of providing durable recyclable sheets capable of displaying media, attaching portion of the sheets to each other, fastening portions of the sheets to the building, disposing supporting members to support portions of the sheets, and attaching the supporting members to portions of the inside surfaces of the sheets.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This invention is generally related to the field of construction. Inparticular, the invention is directed to system and method forprotection of buildings during construction.

2. Background of the Invention

Current systems for protection of buildings under construction usevariety of blankets or tarps to cover buildings under construction. Oneproblem with these systems is the use of variety of disposable materialsthat pose health and environmental hazard. Another problem is that thesesystems are often difficult to install and don't effectively shieldthese buildings.

Accordingly, system and method are needed to address these problems withthe prior art systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objects mentioned above, as well as other objects, are solved by thepresent invention, which overcomes disadvantages while providing newadvantages not previously obtainable in the prior art.

In a preferred embodiment, the system may include a plurality of sheetsthat are configured to be disposed around the perimeter of the building.Each sheet have height, width, length, external and internal surfaces.Portions of each sheet may be attached to portions of the other sheet byone or plurality of external fasteners. One or plurality of top fastenermay be employed to fasten portions of the sheets to parts of thebuilding.

The system may also include plurality of supporting member spaced apartand positioned on the floor surface to support portions of the sheets.The system may also include plurality of internal fasteners to fastenthe supporting members to portions of the sheets.

The top fastener may include a clamp that may include a base member, afirst threaded member that may be connected to the base member, and asecond member that may be connected to the base member. The clamp maysecure portions of the sheets to parts of one or plurality of steel orwood beams.

Portions of the sheets are made of a material configured to berecyclable. Portions of the plurality of sheets are configured to becapable of displaying media advertisement.

The system also includes method for protection of buildings underconstruction. The method may include the steps of providing a pluralityof durable recyclable sheets capable of displaying advertisement,attaching portions of the sheets to each other, and configuring thesheets to be disposed effectively around the perimeter of the building.

The step of configuring the plurality of sheets may include the steps offastening portions of the sheets to parts of a top surface of thebuilding, disposing a plurality of spaced supporting members to supportportions of the sheets, and attaching parts of the plurality ofsupporting members to portions of the inside surfaces of the pluralityof sheets.

The step of fastening portions of the sheets to parts of the top surfaceof the building may includes the steps of disposing top fasteners atparts of the top surface of the building; and securing portions of theplurality of sheets to parts of the top fasteners.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be, or will become, apparent to one having ordinary skillin the art upon examination of the following drawings and detaileddescription. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods,features, and advantages be included within this description, be withinthe scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanyingclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are characteristic of the invention are setforth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, togetherwith further objects and attendant advantages thereof, will be bestunderstood by reference to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exterior view of a system, in accord with the presentinvention, to protect buildings under construction;

FIG. 2 is an inside view of the system shown in FIG. 1, in accord withthe present invention;

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in accord with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment in accord with the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of an embodiment in accord with the presentinvention; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a component of the system in accord with thepresent invention.

The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasisinstead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of thepresent invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Set forth below is a description of what are believed to be thepreferred embodiments and/or best examples of the invention claimed.Future and present alternatives and modifications to this preferredembodiment are contemplated. Any alternatives or modifications, whichmake insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure, or inresult, are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent.

FIG. 1 shows a system 1, in accord with the present invention, toprotect a building 2 under construction from weather element. Building 2may include top surface 7, floor surface 8, and one or plurality steelor wood beams 5. System 1 may include plurality of sheets 3 that arepreferably made of durable and recyclable materials. Portions of sheets3 may be attached to portions of each other sheet by external fasteners4, which may be fasteners, such as zippers, Velcro® or the likes, andmay be spaced and positioned at interfaces 4A between sheets 3 atpredetermined locations.

System 1 may also include one or plurality of top fasteners 6 to fastenpotions of sheets 3 to parts of top surface 7. Top fasteners 6 maysecure portions of sheets 3 to parts of beams 5.

Sheets 3 or portions are configured to be capable of displayingadvertisements or insignias 17. Sheets 3 may be made in white color orany other colors.

FIG. 2 is an interior view of system 1 to protect building 2 fromweather element. Plurality of supporting members 10 may be used to backportions of sheets 3. Supporting members 10 may be positioned atpredetermined locations, such as every 10 feet and so forth. Supportingmembers 10 may be 2×4 wedges or other type of supporting elements.

Inside fasteners 9 may be used to fasten portions of sheets 3 toportions of supporting members 10. Fasteners 9 may include any type offasteners known or used in the construction industry, such as straps andso forth. System 1 effectively seals building 2 with the use ofsupporting members 10 and fasteners 9. Unlike prior art systems, system1 is capable of withstanding high speed wind because system 1 is beingsupported from the inside and the outside.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of another embodiment in accord with thepresent invention. A system 11 may be deployed to protect buildingsunder construction. System 11 may include a plurality of sheets 13 madefrom durable recyclable materials and capable of displaying any type ofmedia. Each sheet 13A may has predetermined heights, width, length,external and internal surfaces, any may vary in dimensions. System 11may also include a plurality of supporting members, not shown, tosupport portions of sheets 13A. System 11 may also include plurality andvariety of inside fasteners 14 positioned in predetermined differentlocations of sheet 13A to fasten portions of sheet 13A to supportingmembers. Inside fasteners 14 may include straps or any other appropriatetype of fasteners used in the construction industry. Inside fastener 14may include straps of variety of sizes, such as 36 or 12 inches orand/or combinations spaced in various locations of sheet 13A to supportportions of sheet 13A.

A plurality of grommets 12 or the like may be used in system 11.Grommets 12 may be used to hook top fasteners 6, as also shown in FIGS.1 and 2, and described in details in FIGS. 6 and 7, to sheet 13A toprovide tight enclosure of the building and to strengthen system 11 towithstand high speed wind and adverse weather.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of system 20 according to the presentinvention. System 20 may include plurality of fabric materials 19.Fabric materials 19 are preferably durable and capable of beingrecycled. Materials 19 are capable of displaying variety of media,including paper or electronic types of advertisements, and so forth.

Sheet 19A may include plurality of fasteners 21 disposed longitudinallyalong a length of sheet 19A to attach portions of sheet 19A to otherportions of other sheets. Fasteners 21 may include zippers, straps,Velcro® or other type of fasteners. Sheet 19A may also include pluralityof spaced support members, not shown, positioned against sheet 19A tosupport portions of sheet 19A. A plurality of inside fasteners 23 may beused to attach the support members to portions of sheet 19A. Insidefasteners 23 may be a strap or other type of fastener and may be of anydimension, such as straps approximately 12 inches in length, and soforth. Additional fasteners may also be used, such as cables 26 that maybe sewn in to provide support and strength to sheet 19A.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of system 20 according to the presentinvention. System 20 may be attached to beam 25 by fastener 6. Portionsof sheet 19A may be supported by spaced supporting members 24 positionedagainst portions of sheet 19A. Supporting members 24 may be 2×4supporting elements or the like. System 20 provides tight enclosure ofthe building because of the tight support for sheets 19 by thecollective support mechanisms of fasteners 6, supporting members 24 andinside fasteners 23.

FIG. 6 shows top fastener 6 in accord with the present invention. Topfastener 6 may include rigid base member 6C that may be shaped like agenerally C-shaped clamp or generally rectangular clamp. It was foundduring tests that the generally rectangular shape provided strength andstiffness to fastener 6 higher than prior art fasteners.

Fastener 6 may include first member 6A that has threaded part 6B, whichis selectively moveable inside hole 6D to secure part of a beam, such as25 shown in previous FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front view of FIG. 6 that shows wing nut 6E that may bethreaded down 6D to hold sheets 19 around buildings to secure system 1around buildings to protect them. Member 6D may be perpendicular to basemember 6C.

The above description is not intended to limit the meaning of the wordsused in the following claim that define the invention. For example whilepreferred embodiments have been described above, persons of ordinaryskill in the art will understand that a variety of other designs stillfalling within the scope of the following claims may be envisioned andused. It is contemplated that future modifications in structure,function, or result will exist that are not substantial changes and thatall such insubstantial changes in what is claimed are intended to becovered by the claims.

1. A system for protection of buildings, the system comprising: (a) aplurality of sheets configured to be disposed around the perimeter ofthe building, each sheet having a height, width, length, external andinternal surfaces, portions of each sheet are attached to portions ofthe other sheet; (b) at least one top fastener to fasten portions of theplurality of sheets to parts of the buildings; (c) a plurality ofsupporting member spaced apart and positioned on the floor surface tosupport portions of the sheets; and (d) a plurality of internalfasteners to fasten the supporting members to portions of the sheets. 2.The system of claim 1 wherein portions of the at least one top fastenerfastens to parts of beams in the building.
 3. The system of claim 2wherein the at least one top fastener comprises a clamp, the clampcomprises a generally rectangular rigid base member, a threaded rodoperatively connected to the rigid member, and a lateral threaded memberconnected to the rigid member for securing portions of the plurality ofsheets to parts of the buildings.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein atleast portion of the plurality of sheets are made of a materialconfigured to be recyclable.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein portionsof the plurality of sheets are capable of displaying media.
 7. A methodfor protection of buildings, the method comprising the steps of: (a)providing a plurality of durable recyclable sheets capable of displayingadvertisement, each sheet having height, width, length, external andinternal surfaces; (b) attaching portions of the plurality of sheets toeach other; and (c) configuring the sheets to be disposed around theperimeter of the building to tightly enclose and seal the building. 8.The method of claim 7 wherein the step of attaching portions of theplurality of sheets to each other includes the use of external fastenersdisposed at interfaces between portions of the sheets.
 9. The method ofclaim 7 wherein the step of configuring the plurality of sheets includesthe steps of (d) fastening portions of the plurality of sheets to partsof top surfaces of the building; (e) disposing a plurality of spacedsupporting members to support portions of the plurality of sheets; and(f) attaching portions of the plurality of supporting members toportions of the inside surfaces of the plurality of sheets.
 10. Themethod of claim 9 wherein the step of fastening portions of theplurality of sheets to parts of the top surface of the building includesthe steps of: (g) disposing top fasteners at portions of the top surfaceof the building; and (h) securing portions of the plurality of sheets toportions of the top fasteners.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein thetop fastener comprises a clamp, the clamp comprises a generallyrectangular base member, a first threaded member connected to the basemember, and a second member connected to the base member.
 12. A fastenerfor fastening portions of a system for protection of building, thefastener comprises a rigid base member, a first threaded memberselectively moveable into the base member and adapted to secure parts ofthe building, and a second member connected to the base member forsecuring portions of the plurality of sheets to parts of the building.13. The fastener of claim 12 wherein the base member is generallyrectangular shaped.